Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Ahh this may require a little more clarification than anticipated... so check it.Darqsyde Vol 2= No dubs?, well more like fewer dubs or not emphasizing dubs...

Out if the Darq vol1: was the same way. it was mostly classic and seldom heard tunes. like everything else I think that once a song is just a few days old, it becomes well OLD in the minds of most of the DJs (consumers are the same way when it comes to cell phones for some reason.. thats a whole different topic though). for as many of my own tracks that are sitting idle or those from the people who hit me with theirs, (which I play on occasion) I think that it has become the rule and not the exception and putting out a mix automatically means NEW and unreleased material. Often that is where all the value is for people.

It began in HIP HOP in the late eighties with people like DJ CLUE and RON G, with Clue putting out mixes of tracks that would never see the light of day. while it was all good to hear some new stuff, when DJ KID CAPRI put out a mix tape it was chock full of all the tunes you heard before mixed with B sides of joints you may have over looked and it was a real treat to hear it all mixed in a way that made it sound like you never heard it before. I wanted to set that expectation.

While there's clearly nothing wrong with the all new approach, I certainly enjoy sneak previews, almost every CD or mix I receive is loaded to the max with up and coming or works in progress, nice to hear the direction that producers are going in. It seems that with more DJs putting emphasis on the "CLUE" side of a mix compilation, one should not automatically expect that this Darqsyde mix will be loaded with un realeased material. I chose the "KID CAPRI" route for this particular project. :) Perhaps the next time it'll be a "CLUE" style joint that comes your way. Again, no offense to the dub slingers out there. I respect what that's all about and part of being a revolutionary is being unconventional in one's approach to a matter. Guerrilla is what Guerrilla does. Hope that sheds more light on the DARQSYDE of things.

DJ Battles were all the rage back in NYC during the early days of HIP HOP. Usually with One DJ Publicly calling out another for DJ Supremacy. While MC Battles were of epic proportion ( Busy B Vs. Kool Moe D, Cold Crush Bros Vs. Force MCs, Fantastic 5 vs Furious 5). None of it was possible without the DJ. and everyone got their game on.JAZZY J, Grandmaster Flash, Master Don, DJ BreakOut, Charlie Chase/Tony Tone). this was the era I grew up in.

Long before Hip Hop ever made it to vinyl, before concert stages there were "JAMS" in the park and the community centers. Soundview Park, Castle Hill, Throggs Neck, Bronx River. Yes, I am truly a Bronx native, born bred and raised. I witnessed the birth of Hip Hop and watched it grow into this mutant thing called Rap, while all the elements of Hip Hop Culture has been revisited. B-Boys Breakdancing, Graffitti ( years prior, JAM-2 was hitting the 6 , 2 and 4 trains, for those wondering where the name came from- tagging with T.O.B - or the crews from soundview and Munroe, DOANS, JERBLE DEE, BLACK, TRAY BAG or learning from the Masters of UA like SEEN, )The pieces you see in your classic Graph Books? I witnessed it directly, from the Classic Pieces like HAND OF DOOM to the multi car joint with Santa and all his reindeer, those DONDI Pieces? BLADE, MAD, DUSTER, CEY SCOPE, Yep those too. From freshly painted to first buffed. Damn near made you want to cry.

Ask Rich Mirando (SEEN) about his piece inside of LEHMAN H.S ( first commissioned piece of graffiti from like 1978-79? who knew?) Most people probably never saw it, or knew who it was who did it. - Damn what an era. I don't usually go on about the past in public. A) it reveals things about me that is best left unknown. B) with so many kids looking on that era as "HISTORY" I hate to sound like one of those people who claim that they were there, but.. you know.. Like seriously, I was there. There is no prize in that nor does it make me cool ( I'm far from it). There are writers and there are legends. Me, I'm just Joe Nobody. In the world of graph, Hip Hop, flyer design or any of the other avenues I traveled. I'm simply a fan as far a you're concerned, lets just leave it at that.

So How did I get off topic like that.. Anyway. DJ Battles right, There hasn't been anything of the like in the arena of Underground Music DUB WAR being based loosely on that concept is a solid event. But Boston has only witnessed Battles in the circles on the dance floor, never in the DJ booth, unless DMC competitions rolled through.

Why not go retro classic on that ass and fire up some controversy, Jam-2 Style. CALLING OUT THE DJs win or lose, Battles make you a better DJ, and with so many in this city this could be interesting. New jacks step your game up. Your name is on the roster. You will be called out Publicly so don't punk out. Defend your name , defend your honor, and rep your crew. OPERATION UNDERGROUND will host BATTLE of the DJ... any you might be on the list.

That is a long lost art that will come to Boston. are YOU Ready for BATTLE?